By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Delta State Police Command has recorded another breakthrough in its ongoing clampdown on armed criminal groups following the arrest of two suspected members of a syndicate believed to be behind a series of cult-related and robbery operations in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said the latest success was achieved by operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson, whose efforts have continued to yield significant results in the fight against violent crime.
Edafe recalled that the development followed an earlier operation carried out on November 24, during which confessed cultists were apprehended and a pump-action gun alongside other incriminating items was recovered.
He said that building on the momentum of that operation, the CP-SAT team intensified surveillance activities across strategic locations in Oghara, acting on what he described as credible intelligence regarding movements of the suspected criminal network.
According to the statement, the intensified operations paid off on November 25 when operatives arrested two additional suspects linked to the syndicate: 38-year-old Justice Ikutu and 55-year-old Peter Okomeje.
The suspects were picked up at different hotspots within Oghara town following coordinated follow-up operations designed to dismantle the group’s activities and prevent further criminal incidents in the area.
A subsequent search carried out at the residence of another suspect identified as Peter Kome led to the discovery of an AK-47 rifle fitted with a double magazine, as well as other items believed to be tied to the gang’s operations.
The recovery of the assault rifle, the police said, provides further evidence of the sophistication of the criminal network and the level of threat it posed to residents and businesses in Oghara.
All suspects arrested so far are currently in police custody, while operatives have launched additional efforts to track down other members of the group who may still be at large.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, commended the swift and coordinated actions of the CP-SAT team, describing the operation as a testament to the command’s resolve to rid the state of violent criminals.
He urged residents to stay vigilant and continue to provide credible information that could assist security agencies in sustaining the pressure on criminal elements operating within their communities.
Abaniwonda reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents of Delta State, assuring that no effort would be spared in dismantling armed groups and restoring peace across troubled hotspots.